Abstract
Plants known as nettles bear trichomes that deliver a painful sting when touched. Studies of members of the Urticaceae have suggested that their trichomes may contain histamine, acetylcholine, and serotonin. We report investigations using TLC, HPLC, and UV-VIS spectrophotometry to analyze the hair fluids ofCnidoscolus texanus, a member of the Euphorbiaceae, along with standards of known histamine, acetylcholine, and serotonin. Of these, only serotonin was detected in hair extracts. Up to four other compounds were detected and partially characterized, but they have not been identified.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Collier, H.O.J., andChesher, G.B. 1956. Identification of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the sting of the nettle (Urtica dioica).Br. J. Pharmacol. 11:186–189.
Cordeiro, R., Aragao, J., andMorhy, L. 1983. The presence of histamine inCnidosculus [sic]oligandrus (Euphorbiaceae).An. Acad. Brasil. Cienc. 55:123–128.
Emmelin, N., andFeldberg, W. 1947. The mechanism of the sting of the common nettle (Urtica dioica).J. Physiol. 106:440–445.
Emmelin, N., andFeldberg, W. 1949. Distribution of acetylcholine and histamine in nettle plants.New Phytol. 48:143–148.
Flury, F. 1927. Uber die chemische Natur der Nesselgifte.Z. Gesamte Exp. Med. 56:402–409.
Lutz, D. 1914. The poisonous nature of the stinging hairs ofJatropha [=Cnidoscolus]urens.Science 40:609–610.
MacFarlane, W.V. 1963. The stinging properties of Laportea.Econ. Bot. 17:303–311.
Oelrichs, P.B., andRobertson, P.A. 1970. Purification of pain-producing substances fromDendrocnide (Laportea) moroides.Toxicon 8:89–90.
Pollard, A.J. 1986. Variation inCnidoscolus texanus in relation to herbivory.Oecologia 70:411–413.
Pollard, A.J., andBriggs, D. 1984. Genecological studies ofUrtica dioica L. III. Stinging hairs and plant-herbivore interactions.New Phytol. 97:507–522.
Robertson, P.A., andMacFarlane, W.V. 1957. Pain-producing substances from the stinging bushLaportea moroides.Aust. J. Exp. Biol. Med. Sci. 35:381–393.
Thurston, E.L. 1974. Morphology, fine structure, and ontogeny of the stinging emergence ofUrtica dioica.Am. J. Bot. 61:809–817.
Thurston, E.L., andLersten, N.R. 1969. The morphology and toxicology of plant stinging hairs.Bot. Rev. 35:393–412.
Willis, C.L. 1969. Toxic constituents of the stinging nettle. M.S. thesis. Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
Winkler, H. 1922. Die Urticaceen Papuasiens.Bot. Jahrb. 57:501–608.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lookadoo, S.E., Pollard, A.J. Chemical contents of stinging trichomes ofCnidoscolus texanus . J Chem Ecol 17, 1909–1916 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00993737
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00993737